Understanding the diffusion of weather index insurance among smallholder farmers in Zambia: case of four (4) selected districts.
| dc.contributor.author | Munkombwe, Joshua | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-09-03T12:38:59Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-09-03T12:38:59Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024 | |
| dc.description | Thesis of Doctor of Philosophy in Business and Management. | |
| dc.description.abstract | Understanding the reasons why smallholder farmers do not use financial instruments to protect themselves against losses brought on by climate change concerns is currently a subject of rising relevance. Getting to the bottom of the underlying issues contributing to this status is important for future designs of financial innovations like a weather index insurance (WII) that can help farmers hedge their losses. Therefore, this study considered testing the 5 technology characteristics that Rodgers identified for uptake to take place. These include trialability, complexity, compatibility, relative advantage, and observability, covering a period from 2016 to 2020. The study used a concurrent mixed methods approach to ensure both quantitative and qualitative aspects of the study were considered, given the complexity of the inquiry. The study used purposive sampling to select 4 districts in Zambia: Choma, Petauke, Chongwe, and Mumbwa using the standard sample size table provided by Sekeran (2003), which provided for a sample size of 1024 at a concentration of 0.05 with an accuracy level of 95% confidence. The farmers were interviewed using structured questionnaires. To determine factors associated with WII the adjusted binary logistic regression model was used at 95% confidence level and thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Further, an IBM statistical analysis in social science (SPSS) was used to analyze quantitative data. From the study 50.82% of the farmer’s said WII is not consistent with its modalities, compatibility, and information with the p-value of 0.001, which was significant, and further, 40.8% of the farmers indicated the importance of bundling the services to have relative advantages of the product with a p-value of 0.001. 47.87% of farmers indicated they were not satisfied with the payout system, with a p-value of 0.001, which was significant as an important enabler in the uptake of WII. Easiness of utilization indicated a p-value of 0.001, which was significant. Farmer cooperatives indicated a p-value of 0.001, which had significant influence as an appropriate distribution model through which the farmers got information, premiums, payouts, and aggregation. In conclusion, from the first technology characteristic called trialability, it is important to highlight the fact that smallholder farmers have been experiencing various challenges in the diffusion of WII since its inception. Since such challenges are various, they are responsible for the broad or multifaceted nature of the problem of diffusion of WII. This included among other issues related to awareness and promotions, trust, affordability, and access. Further, the theory can extend its views by considering the functionality of the market. The government, policy makers, business community, agricultural industry, and smallholder farmers will all benefit from the study. The recommended model will be key in facilitating the uptake and scale up of WII among the Smallholder farmers. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dspace.unza.zm/handle/123456789/8839 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | The University of Zambia | |
| dc.title | Understanding the diffusion of weather index insurance among smallholder farmers in Zambia: case of four (4) selected districts. | |
| dc.type | Thesis |